Community and Outreach Specialist

UNOPS; Kansas; Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

UNOPS Albania seeks a Community and Outreach Specialist to advance gender equality and social inclusion within the EU for Property Rights project. You will design and adapt community engagement strategies to ensure diverse participation and accessible services across Albania, reporting to the Senior Project Manager.

You will build capacity in national institutions, coordinate with BPR and Communications teams, and deliver targeted outreach to women and underrepresented groups, shaping inclusive

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in community engagement or public relations.
• Experience with local communities, especially in rural or cadastral-related sectors.
• Experience organizing public consultations, outreach campaigns, and awareness-raising initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Support the Project Manager on key activities for successful project implementation.
• Ensure inclusion of women, vulnerable groups, and marginalized communities in project activities.
• Provide capacity building to national agencies to integrate gender and social inclusion.
• Collaborate with Communications and BPR Experts on inclusive outreach approaches.

Skills

Community engagement

Outreach

Public relations

Gender equality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications/public relations/social sciences

Master’s degree in related fields

Job description

Job Highlight

This role offers a unique opportunity to drive social inclusion and gender equality within a critical land administration reform project in Albania. The specialist will play a pivotal role in ensuring that project benefits reach all segments of society, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups, contributing directly to enhanced public trust, economic development, and Albania's EU accession goals.

About The Project Office

Established in 2020, the UNOPS Office in Albania supports national efforts to improve economic and social conditions in the wake of the November 2019 earthquake. Through its flagship initiatives, UNOPS is contributing to the rehabilitation of cultural heritage sites and the digital transformation of the justice sector. By combining project management, infrastructure development, and technical expertise, UNOPS aims to strengthen Albania’s resilience, enhance public services, and promote sustainable development. The Albania office also plays a role in fostering connectivity and advancing healthcare standards across the country.

Role Purpose

The Community and Outreach Specialist is responsible for independently managing and adapting community engagement and outreach strategies to ensure the inclusion and participation of women, vulnerable groups, and marginalized communities within the 'EU for Property Rights' project. This role involves integrating gender equality and social inclusion considerations into project activities, providing authoritative advice, and building capacity within national institutions to foster accessible and responsive services.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• For the "EU for Property Rights" project, and reporting to the UNOPS Senior Project Manager, the Specialist will support the Project Manager on the key activities of the project for the successful implementation of the project.
• The primary objective of this role is to ensure the inclusion and participation of women, vulnerable groups, and marginalized communities by integrating gender equality and social inclusion considerations into relevant project activities.
• Among their specific responsibilities, the Specialist will:
• Support the Business Process Review (BPR) Expert to ensure that redesigned services are accessible, inclusive and responsive to different user needs.
• Provide targeted capacity building to SCA and Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA), based on identified needs, to strengthen the integration of gender and social inclusion considerations, particularly the needs of vulnerable and underrepresented groups, into relevant services and processes.
• Support the Communications Expert in developing inclusive and gender-responsive communication and outreach approaches, ensuring that information is accessible and relevant to different groups of citizens.
• The Specialist is expected to work closely with the Communications Expert and Business Process Review Expert. The number of days will depend on the tasks in line with the project implementation as identified by the Project Manager and agreed with the consultant.

Impact of Results

The Specialist, under the supervision of the Project Manager, will contribute to ensuring that gender equality and social inclusion considerations are appropriately integrated into relevant project activities. The Specialist’s work will support more accessible and inclusive service processes, strengthen the capacity of SCA and ARDA to contribute to socially inclusive and gender-responsive communication and outreach.

Education Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in Communications, Public Relations, Social Sciences or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in community engagement, outreach, or public relations, preferably in the context of development projects.
• Experience working with local communities, particularly in rural or cadastral-related sectors is required.
• Experience in organizing and managing public consultations, outreach campaigns, and awareness-raising initiatives is required.
• Experience in working with national authorities, government agencies, and international donors in EU accession countries is required.

Desired

• Familiarity with land management reforms or cadastral systems is an advantage.